Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently in foster care nationwide; the number of children that have been in foster care in the past 20 years; the procedures in place for recording foster care arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26757/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which provide an overall analysis of key performance data from finance, HR, hospital and primary and community services, including statistics in relation to children in foster care. The most recent report in July 2011 states that there are 5,354 children in foster care nationwide. The figures for the number of children that have been in foster care from December 2006 are shown in the table.

Service Plan performance indicators were first introduced in 2006 as a high level set of indicators to be reported on through the year by the HSE. Prior to 2006, information was collected by individual health boards and I have requested the HSE to provide information on foster care prior to 2006 directly to the Deputy.